Renowned as the “Wolf Warrior Actor,” Wu Jing’s new film “Goodbye, Villain” which he starred in and produced, premiered on the 22nd and has accumulated less than 260,000 RMB in box office earnings over the past 5 days. This has sparked heated discussions among netizens, with some saying, “Patriotism is no longer working, the audience has awakened! Wu Jing is facing a deadlock.”
According to public information, “Goodbye, Villain” tells the story of Da Wu (played by Chen Minghao), a commoner living in the old town of Wuhan, whose life is in a mess. In order to help someone collect debts, he meets a young boy named Dou Dou (played by Chen Yuzhe). After learning about Dou Dou’s situation, Da Wu coerces his neighbors to help fulfill Dou Dou’s last wish, which changes his world. Chinese media reports that Wu Jing is one of the producers of the film, and also makes a cameo appearance as the “Big Brother of Wuhan.”
As of 7 pm on August 26th, the film only earned 258,000 RMB in box office revenue after 5 days of screening, with a screen share and box office share both below 0.1% and an occupancy rate of less than 1%. Currently, the film has been largely abandoned by both the market and the audience, considered a loss-making venture. The dismal box office performance has made it seem like even big data is not bothering to predict the final box office outcome.
Some viewers have provided feedback, criticizing the film for its cliched content and plot, contrived and disconnected dramatic conflicts, and exaggerated comedic style that feels like watching a skit. Despite the film’s story taking place in the old town of Wuhan, the actors speak in a strong Beijing accent rather than the authentic Wuhan dialect, making the dialogues seem quite awkward.
Some netizens commented that the film claims to promote “love and peace,” but as a subject matter that is deemed lackluster, it cannot disguise its flaws. Some bluntly stated, “Wu Jing has made a fortune over the years using ‘patriotism’ as a selling point, but now that facade is starting to crack, and the audience is not buying it.”
Others mocked, saying, “Patriotism should mean loving a country where the elderly are cared for, and the working population has an 8-hour workday with days off. Patriotism is right but some people use it as an excuse to empty your pockets. The common people are not foolish, their eyes are sharp. Any mention of sentimental films to me, I must reject it outright.”
Wu Jing has previously starred in “Wolf Warrior” and “The Wandering Earth,” among other “patriotic films,” claiming to have garnered over 30 billion RMB in box office revenue from his film appearances. In recent years, he has been lauded by the Chinese Communist Party as a “box office guarantee.” However, some analysts argue that Wu Jing’s “patriotic films” in mainland China once enjoyed explosive box office success not so much due to the films’ intrinsic appeal, but rather due to the CCP’s brainwashing propaganda and exploitation of administrative power to create an illusion of “patriotism.” This has severely distorted the Chinese film market. They believe that Wu Jing’s “Wolf Warrior” films not only fabricate information but also promote violence, blurring the lines between party and state, which is off-putting to many.
In fact, last year, Wu Jing starred in the Communist Party’s mainstream film “Zero Limit,” with a production cost exceeding 100 million RMB, which earned a paltry 143 RMB on its opening day, becoming the most dismal box office performer during the Qingming Festival in mainland China that year.